Oprah Winfrey’s illustrious career, from interviewing countless esteemed guests on The Oprah Winfrey Show and launching her own network, has been nothing short of remarkable. However, despite her many achievements, there is one regret that she often reflects upon.
As she spoke about turning 70 during an exclusive interview with Al Roker on Today, Oprah Winfrey expressed a wish that she had taken more time to rest and reset after concluding her iconic talk show. The highly acclaimed daytime talk program, which aired nationally for 25 seasons, ran from 1986 to 2011, originating from Chicago, Illinois.
Oprah said she jumped right into building her network, OWN, without giving herself a break to reflect.
“I would not have taken on the responsibility of trying to build a network [OWN] while still ending the show. That is my one regret,” the media maven told Roker on her Today interview Aug. 21.
“I should have handled all of that differently, I think. I should have completed one thing, taken a year to do nothing, and then decided what was the next thing for me to do.”
Winfrey continued, “I’d made a decision that it was time for the show to end, I don’t regret that. What I do regret is trying to do multiple things at the same time. I would have done the thing that I tell everybody else to do: ‘When you don’t know what to do, do nothing. Get still with yourself and do nothing.’ I would have given myself that time.”
Oprah Winfrey talks at the DNC – Source: Anadolu / Getty
Oprah Winfrey felt pressure to create OWN.
OWN features a diverse array of content, including original series, documentaries, and specials that focus on personal development, lifestyle, and inspirational stories. Notable shows on the network include Queen Sugar, a critically acclaimed drama series created by Ava DuVernay, and the reality TV series Ready to Love, which explores modern dating and relationships.
Winfrey shared that, following the intense focus on her after the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show, there was significant pressure from others to capitalize on the moment and launch new projects. However, after 29 seasons, what she truly desired was simply a break.
“Everybody has that natural life force instinct inside yourself that lets you know what’s right or wrong, or that is your emotional GPS system, and any time I’ve ever gone against that, any time, is when I’ve made a mistake,” Winfrey confessed. “Every time I’ve just gotten still and listened to what my gut said — what that still small voice that resides inside me and you and everybody else says — I would never have made a mistake.”
Today, Winfrey deeply appreciates the importance of rest and embraces slowing down to savor life. She told Roker that her greatest gift is her ability to “live in the present moment.”
The 70-year-old star added, “I’m not a worrier. I will worry about the thing when the thing shows up.”
RELATED CONTENT: Let It Goooooo! Besties Oprah Winfrey And Gayle King Aren’t ‘Gay’
